Knowing What is Important

It is easy to get caught up in the rush of activity that comes with a busy and full life. We revert to autopilot as we rush around, and this affects all of our relationships. If you are in autopilot much of the time, it is difficult to switch back to the present moment. You might seem like you are sitting still, but in your mind, you are planning the next several activities and destinations. Whoever is in front of you can seem more like an obstacle on your path rather than someone you care about. It is hard to slow down enough to really be with yourself much less another.

Today I offer an experiment.  As you go about your daily tasks, build in some micro-moments to ask yourself the following questions:

What is important in this moment?

Why is this thing important?

What is not important in this moment?

What is getting more of my attention right now: the important thing or the unimportant one?

If I am focusing on something unimportant, why?

How can I switch my focus and attend to what is important in this moment?

A good time for building in the micro-moments is when you are feeling tense.  Tension usually points to a need to bring focus to your state of mind.  Just now, I did my own experiment.  I often write blog posts while my infant son entertains himself nearby.  A few minutes ago, I noticed myself getting tense, trying to type faster while my son started to grump.  What was important was attending to his needs.  It was important because I am committed to being his mother more than to being a blogger.  In the moment he was fussing, the blog post was not important.  I confess that for a moment, I was giving the blog more attention than my son, which was making me tense.  The reason I gave the blog post more attention was that I have an arbitrary desire to complete posts in one sitting.  I switched my focus to my son and we played together.  I was rewarded with the most adorable smiles and coos and giggles.  These moments don’t last long in a baby’s life, and I am happy to say that I was right there for that particular one.  Now he is back to entertaining himself, and I am able to finish this post, but with much less tension.  Try this experiment on yourself today, and see what importance awaits your attention.